India Launches 3rd Scorpene Class Submarine

January 31, 2018

The Indian Navy has launched its third P75 Scorpene Class conventional attack submarine (SSK) today. The submarine has been built by Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) through technology transfer and partnership with Naval Group.

The new submarine has been named ‘Karanj’ and will now undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before it is commissioned into the Indian Navy.

“This is a remarkable feat achieved by India, and MDL is indeed grown to be among the rarest of shipyards around the world to have mastered such unique competence of submarine building. We are glad to partner with such a shipyard, which can boast of competence and infrastructure which allows them to build 12 submarines at a time, thus proving an industrial marvel and an asset for Indian Navy and Indian government,” said Alain Guillou, Senior Executive Vice President, Naval Group who was present at the launch ceremony of the submarine.

The second boat Khanderi was launched in January 2017, and is undergoing sea trials and will be commissioned in coming months.

INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene Class submarine was commissioned into the Navy in December last year.

The contract for the construction and Transfer-of-Technology for six Scorpene submarines in series, has M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France as ‘Collaborator’ and are being built by MDL.

The Naval Group Scorpene Class submarines are 2000 tonne conventional-propulsion submarine designed and developed for all types of mission, such as surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations or intelligence gathering.

The submarines feature high levels of operating automation, allowing a limited number of crew, thus reducing operating costs significantly.